The modifications that allow camera sensors to detect users’ chest movements, including breathing and the respiration rate calculation, will be rolled out next month. Image: Google
Google has introduced an upgraded fitness app that will use smartphone camera capabilities and measure users’ respiration and heart rate. The application already counts on smartphone sensors to check the distance people walk and the calories burned. But the new upgrade is expected to also add pulse and breathing data to the complete health details in the app. According to the company blog post, it is to note that this unveiled upgraded version is for Pixel phone users.
“Heart and respiratory rates are vital signs commonly used to assess your health and wellness. Next month, Google Fit will allow you to measure your heart and respiratory rates using just your phone’s camera,” Google said. While the upgrade is for Pixel users only, Shwetak Patel, Director of Health Technologies Google Health, said the company plans to expand to more Android devices.
The modifications that allow camera sensors to detect users’ chest movements, including breathing and the respiration rate calculation, will be rolled out next month.
How can it be used?
According to the company, users who want to measure their respiratory rate must place their head and upper torso before their phone’s front-facing camera and breathe normally. Users can set their fingers on the rear-facing camera lens to calculate the heart rate. From this, Google Fit can determine heart beating rate depending on skin color as the blood is pumped.
“While these measurements aren’t meant for medical diagnosis or to evaluate medical conditions, we hope they can be useful for people using the Google Fit app to track and improve day-to-day wellness. Once the measurements are made, you can save them in the app to monitor trends alongside other health and wellness information,” the company added.
According to the company blog post, it is to note that this unveiled upgraded version is for Pixel phone users. The application already counts on smartphone sensors to check the distance people walk and the calories burned. But the new upgrade is expected to also add pulse and breathing data to the complete health details in the app.
“Heart and respiratory rates are vital signs commonly used to assess your health and wellness. Next month, Google Fit will allow you to measure your heart and respiratory rates using just your phone’s camera,” Google said. While the upgrade is for Pixel users only, Shwetak Patel, Director of Health Technologies at Google Health, said the company plans to expand to more Android devices.
